Ring Of Fire

Lyrics

Love is a burning thing (that's right)
And it makes a firery ring (it's a fiery ring)
I was captured by pure desire (that's right)
I fell into a ring of fire (Ow, ow, ow)

I fell into a burning ring of fire
I went down, down down
And the flames they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
That ring of fire

Love is a burning thing (that's right, it's the same verse again)
And it makes a firery ring (it's one way of learning English)
I was captured by pure desire (pure desire)
I fell into that burning ring of fire (Ow, ow, ow)

I fell into that burning ring of fire (Johnny, let go that madness)
I fell down, down down
And the flames they got higher
And it burns, burns, burns
That ring of fire
(repeating to end)

Players On This Song

• Frank Zappa - lead guitar, computer-synth, vocal
• Ike Willis - rhythm guitar, synth, vocal
• Mike Keneally - rhythm guitar, synth, vocal
• Bobby Martin - keyboards, vocal
• Ed Mann - vibes, marimba, electronic percussion
• Walt Fowler - trumpet, flugel horn, synth
• Bruce Fowler - trombone
• Paul Carman - alto sax, soprano sax, baritone sax
• Albert Wing - tenor sax
• Kurt McGettrick - baritone sax, bass sax, contrabass clarinet
• Scott Thunes - electric bass, mini-moog
• Chad Wackerman - drums, electronic percussion

Records On Which This Song Has Appeared

Zappa Albums & Side Projects

• The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life

Notes About This Song

Mike Keneally sings this song in his Johnny Cash voice. Johnny was supposed to play on this song, however his wife was sick and he could not make the show. Zappa asked the crowd if they would like to hear the song even if Johnny was not there to sing, and the crowd replied yes. Throughout the rest of disc 1, they would throw in references to Johnny and the song.

The recording is from Würzburg and was played three times during the concert, two times as beginning of the encore.

Johnny, you'll never know what you missed. – Frank Zappa